Sheet feed trays



May 16, 1967 w. F. BISHOP 3,319,956

SHEET FEED TRAYS Filed June 14, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l III I .HH L:

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W. F. BISHOP May 16, 1967 SHEET FEED TRAYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1965 May 16, 1967 w. F. BISHOP 3,319,956

SHEET FEED TRAYS Filed June 14, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1710677151: C(jalzerFBishap.

United States Patent 3,319,956 SHEET FEED TRAYS Walter F. Bishop, Hoffman Estates, 115., assignor to Beli & Howell Company, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Illinois Filed June 14, 1965, Ser. No. 463,645 6 Claims. (Cl. 271-60) The present invention relates to an improvement in sheet feed trays for copy producing machines, and more particularly to sheet feed trays providing controlled movement of a corner sheet separator thereon.

A major disadvantage in present sheet feed tray construction is the operating requirement of manual manipulation of the sheet corner separators. In normal operation the corner separators must be raised upwardly from the platen or stack of copy sheets, held in a raised position while a new stack of sheets is loaded, then lowered into engagement with the stack before sheet feeding can begin. To raise and then lower the corner separators presently requires at least two separate manual steps. This is time consuming, particularly where new stacks of copy sheets must be frequently loaded or changed. These disadvantages are compounded by the fact that copy producing machines are often run by personnel with limited or infrequent experience. Thus the elimination of operlating levers and operating steps on the sheet feed tray can achieve significant results in increasing the efiiciency of use of the copy producing machine.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel sheet feed tray which eliminates the above disadvantages in sheet feed tray operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel sheet feed tray with automatic controlled movement of the corner separators.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a novel sheet feed tray with means for a disengaged or non-operative position of the corner separator.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a sheet feed tray with lift means adapted to automatically raise the corner separator to -a stack loading position, and adapted to automatically lower the corner separator into its operating position when the sheet feed drive means of the copy machine is moved into its sheet feeding position.

It is a further object of the present invention to accomplish the above and other objects by means of a reliable, inexpensive and lightweight sheet feed tray which is fully compatible with present copy producing machines.

The invention contemplates a sheet feed tray with a corner separator mounted for vertical movement adjacent the front edge of a platen, and spring loaded lift means operating the corner separator into an upstanding stack loading position, which lift means are adapted to be moved downward by the downward movement of the sheet feed drive means on the copy machine, whereby the corner separator is automatically lowered from the stack loading position into its operating position.

The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 .is a perspective view of a sheet feed tray in accordance with the invention in position on a copy producing machine;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the sheet feed tray of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional side view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of the sheet feed tray of FIGURES 1-3; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional side view similar to 3,319,956 Patented May 16, 1967 FIGURE 2, illustrating the operation of the corner separator disengaging means.

Turning now to the drawings, and referring specifically to FIGURE 1, there is shown therein a sheet feed tray 10 in accordance with the present invention including a platen 12, a pair of side rails 14 thereon, a vertically moving comer separator 16 on the front edge of each side rail 16, and an upwardly spring biased lift arm 18 engaging each corner separator 16 and urging it into an upstanding stack loading position. Each lift arm 18 is disposed to be engaged and forced downwardly by a drive shaft 20 on the copy producing machine 24 as the sheet feed wheels 22 thereon are moved into operating position against the copy sheets. Automatic movement of the corner separators from the stack loading position into the operating position is provided thereby.

It is to be appreciated that the copy producing machine 24, a machine well known in the art, is merely exemplary of various copying or printing machines which feed indi vidual copy sheets from a stack of copy sheets on a feed tray. Accordingly, the configuration of the sheet feed tray will vary with the particular copy producing machine with which the feed tray is designed to operate.

The present invention employs in a novel and ingenious manner the fact that many copy producing machines provide adjacent the sheet feed tray a sheet feed drive means which has a tretractile movement into engagement with the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets. In the illustrated machine 24, for example, the sheet feed drive means is provided by the drive shaft 20 mounted above the sheet feed tray 10 carrying the pair of feed wheels 22 axially fixed to the drive shaft. The drive shaft 20 is mounted to lift away from the feed tray for stack loading and move downwardly theretoward for sheet feeding. Further, there is a substantial downward biasing force maintaining the feed wheels 22 against the stack of copy sheets wfhile sheet feeding.

Considering the platen 12 disclosed herein, it provides a surface (preferably planar) for supporting the stack of copy sheets. The platen 12 is preferably adapted to be mounted in a conventional manner to the copy producing machine 24. Preferably a front edge 30 on the platen is closely spaced from and parallel to the sheet input location of the machine 24. The platen 12 preferably mounts to the machine so that the surface thereof is substantially horizontal. A suitable slidable mounting structure for the pair of side rails 14 is provided by a rod 32 extending transversely underneath the platen parallel the front edge 30. The platen also preferably includes an adjustable counter-force apparatu 34 acting upwardly against the drive shaft 20, adjustably substraoting from the downward bias force of the drive shaft and thereby controlling the total or effective force which the feed wheels 22 exert upon the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets.

Turning to the pair of side rails 14, preferably they are parallel to each other and extend rearwardly from the front edge 30, laterally positionable on the platen 12 for laterally containing the stack of copy sheets therebetween. The side rails are preferably an allochiral pair, and accordingly only one side rail 14 is described herein. The side rail 14 preferably includes a horizontal base portion 36 closely overlying the platen and a vertically upstanding side wall portion 38 providing an abutting side guide for the stack of copy sheets. The base portion 36 may be conveniently provided with a friction pad 40.

Preferably the side rail 14 has an integral mounting extension 42 extending vertically downward from the base portion 36 at the front edge 30 of the platen. As may be particularly seen in FIGURE 4 this mounting extension 42 has secured thereto a mounting strip 44 which is closely spaced from and overlying the mounting extension 42 to define a vertical space therebetween adapted to allow not'be described in detail herein.

the corner separator 16 to loosely slide therethrough. Preferably, vertically spaced rivets 46 interconnect the mounting strip 44 and the mounting extension 42 and form a vertical slide guide and stop for the corner separator 16 by extending through an elongate vertical slot 48 in the corner separator.

Turning to one of the pair of preferably allochiral corner separators 16, it may be seen that in part, as to the specific sheet corner separation function, it provides a structure and operation which is known in the art and need Preferably the corner separator 16 is formed as a unitary sheet metal member, with the sheet separation structure provided by a vertical stop portion 50 and a horizontal flange portion 52. The vertical stop portion 50 extends inwardly of the pair of side rails to provide a front stop for the stack of copy sheets. The horizontal flange portion 52 extends rearwardly from the vertical stop portion 50 (away from the front edge 30) and overlies a small area of the platen inside the side rail side wall 38. When a stack of sheets is in position between the side rails and against the stop portion 50 the flange portion 52 is adapted to overlie and press down upon a forward corner of the stack, retaining the weight of the corner separator thereon.

The corner separator 16 preferably has a disengaged or non-operative position. This may be provided by allowing the corner separator to drop until the flange portion 52 rests upon the surface of the platen 12. The flange portion 52 in this position enters a cut-out 54 in the base portion 36 of the side rail so that the flange portion is flush with or below the upper surface of base portion 36. Thus, paper being fed, e.g., by hand, passes over the depressed flange portion 52 without any interference from the flange portion 52 or being acted on thereby. The top of the vertical stop portion is preferably located below the flange portion 52 so that when the flange portion 52 rests upon the surface of the platen the vertical stop 50 is completely recessed below the platen surface. Of course, it is understood that if the stack of paper rests directly on the platen rather than on the base portion 36 the platen could "be cut out to receive the flange portion 52 in flush engagement with the platen.

Turning now to the portion of the corner separator 16 directly cooperating with the lift arm 18, there is illustrated in FIGURE 4, for example, a vertically upstanding extension portion 56. The extension portion 56 is preferably spaced outside the side wall 38 of the side rail 14 so as not to interfere with the movement of the copy sheets. It preferably extends substantially above the flange portion 52 so as to extend above the platen 12 even when the corner separator is in its fully downward disengaged position. Through the extension portion 56 is an elongate vertical slot 58 ending at an upper termination 60.

Considering next the novel lift arm 18, it may be seen this this member simultaneously acts upon the corner separator 16 and is in turn acted upon by the sheet feed Wheel drive shaft 20. Preferably the lift arm 20 is a lightweight elongate member mounted at one end thereof to the side rail 14 and spring biased upwardly away from the platen.

In the disclosed embodiment the secured end of the lift arm is hingedly secured about a pin 62 on the side rail, and the spring bias is provided by a folded leaf spring 64. The leaf spring 64 is compressed when the lift arm is moved downwardly toward the platen. The lift arm preferably extends freely from the pin 62 horizontally over the platen toward the front edge 30, outside the side rail side wall 38.

Preferably, the extended end of the lift arm 18 has an integral finger portion 68. This finger portion 68 is adapted to extend through the slot 58 in the extension portion 56 of the corner separator. Since the lift arm and the finger portion 68 thereof is mounted for vertical movement, and the slot 58 is vertically elongate, the lift arm may be substantially raised or lowered without interference with, or effect upon, the corner separator. This is, the finger portion 68 is freely vertically movable within the slot 58. However, the slot 58 is terminated at its uppermost end by the upper termination 60. Accordingly, as the lift arm is forced upwardly by the spring 64 the finger portion 68 eventually liftably engages the upper termination 60 and thereby vertically raises the entire corner separator. Thus there is provided a fully automatic and non-manual raising of the corner separator into an upstanding stack loading position.

For fully automatic operation the corner separator must also automatically lower onto the stack of copy sheets prior to the sheet feeding operation, and must continuously lower with the stack of copy sheets during sheet feeding so as to maintain pressure thereon. To these ends novel employment is made of the fact that in changing from a sheet loading condition to a sheet feeding condition the sheet feed wheels 22 and the drive shaft 20 carrying them must be lowered toward engagement with the uppermost copy sheet. An intermediate portion 69 of the lift arm 18 is spaced from the platen and positioned to be contacted by the drive shaft 20 as it lowers prior to engagement of the feed wheels with the copy sheet. The spring 64 is adapted to provide an upward bias on the lift arm 18 greatly less than the downward bias of the drive shaft 20. Accordingly, the lift arm is easily pushed downwardly against its spring bias by the drive shaft 20. Thus the corner separator 16 automatically moves downward with the drive shaft 20 and lift arm 18.

It is desirable to provide disengagement of the lift arm from the corner separator, so as to allow controlled independent movement of the corner separator when the feed wheels 22 are in engagement with the copy sheets. This is provided by the above described relationship between the finger portion 68 and theelongate slot 58. Preferably, the upper termination 60 is at "a greater vertical distance above the flange portion 52 than is the finger portion 68 when the lift arm 18 is held down by the drive shaft 20. The finger portion 68 is thus held below the upper termination 60 and accordingly, the corner separator 16 is free to move independently of the lift arm position. This automatic disengagement is maintained continuously throughout the feeding of the entire stack of copy sheets, regardless of the initial thickness of the stack. This is because the feed wheels 22 and the flange portion 52 both rest upon the uppermost copy sheet and thus both move downwardly together as the stack is depleted by sheet feeding. The corner separator 16, being disposed to move downwardly toward the platen by its own weight, drops toward the platen as soon as the upward lifting engagement provided upon it by the lift arm is removed. The corner separator will lower until arrested by the flange portion 52 engaging the stack of copy sheets. The weight of the corner separator then rests upon the corner of the uppermost sheet.

An additional novel feature of the sheet feed tray 10 is the provision of latching means for securing the lift arm in a depressed position wherein the corner separator will move downwardly into its above described disengaged position (with the flange portion 52 resting upon the platen and recessed within the cut-out 54 and the vertical stop portion 50 recessed below the platen). A preferred apparatus of particular convenience for the operator is clearly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5. A small roughsufaced thumb wheel 70 is rotatably mounted to the side wall 38 of each side rail 14. The wheel 70 is preferably mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis 71 and for projection above the side rail so as to easily be rotated by the operator. The axis of rotation 71 of the thumb wheel is preferably spaced above the lift arm 18 and closely spaced forward of the fixed end of the lift arm. The thumb wheel 70 is preferably eccentrically faceted, with a first facet 72 truncating the wheel by a plane closely spaced from the axis 71, and a second facet 74 at right angles to the first facet 72 and truncating the wheel by a plane substantially spaced from the axis 71. The wheel 70 is normally positioned so that the first facet 72 is presented to the lift arm. In this position (see FIGURE 3) the thumb wheel 70 offers no interference to vertical movement of the lift arm.

By rotating the thumb wheel 70 90 the second facet 74 is presented overlying the lift arm, as may be seen in FIGURE 5. The distance between the wheel axis of rotation 71 and the facet surface 74 is such that the upward movement of the lift 'arm is restricted in this thumb wheel position, and the lift arm is forced downwardly as the wheel is rotated into this position. As long as the thumb wheel 70 is left in this latching position the facet 74 will forcibly engage and retain the lift arm in a depressed position. The configurations of the wheel 70, lift arm 18 and corner separator 16 are such that in this depressed position the finger portion 68 is spaced above the platen surface by a vertical distance less than the vertical distance between the flange portion 52 and the upper termination '60. Accordingly, the corner separator is free to drop into its disengaged position.

The operation of the sheet feed tray of the invention will be clear from the above description of the components thereof and their operative function. Considering first the normal operation where the sheet corner separators 16 are to be employed, the copy machine and feed tray operations are substantially identical to conventional copy machine operations. The significant and advantageous distinction is that when the sheet feed wheel drive shaft is raised to permit loading a stack of copy sheets, the corner separators 16 are automatically raised by the spring biased lift arms 18 to an upstanding stack loading position. Thus the separate manual operation previously required of lifting the corner separators for stack loading is completely eliminated. Further, when the drive shaft 20 is lowered prior to initiation of sheet feeding, the corner separators are automatically lowered to their operative engaging position. This eliminates another separate manual operation previously required. The corner separators are automatically properly positioned throughout the copy sheet feeding, regardless of the thickness of the stack. Thus, it may 'be seen that in the overall machine operation fully automatic operation and control of the corner separators ha been provided, and the machine operator need not be concerned at any time during the machine operation with control or adjustment of the corner separators.

In machine operations Where it is desired not to employ the corner separators, the above described automatic latching provided by the thumb wheel 70 provides simple and rapid disengagement of the corner separators. Rotation of the thumb wheel 70 drops the corner separators into their disengaged position, where they will remain until a corresponding reverse movement of the wheel 70 quickly returns them to their normal operating position.

In view of the foregoing descriptions, it is clear that there has been provided herein a new and improved sheet feed tray with automatically controlled movement of the sheet corner separators and complete elimination of manual operation thereof. While the embodiments described herein are at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that variations and modifications may be made therein by those having skills in the art, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such variations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a copy producing machine provided with a sheet feed tray for supporting and positioning a stack of cop-y sheets for input to the machine and provided with a sheet feed drive means disposed adjacent the sheet feed tray for retractile movement into engagement with the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets thereon, the improvement in the sheet feed tray comprising:

a platen for supporting the stack of copy sheets, said platen having a front edge;

at least one side rail mounted on said platen and extending rearwardly from said front edge for laterally containing the stack of copy sheets;

a corner separator mounted for movement vertical to said platen at said front edge of said platen adjacent said side rail,

said corner separator including a vertical stop portion and a horizontal flange portion connected thereto,

said vertical stop portion extending laterally of said side rail to provide a front stop for the stack of copy sheets and said horizontal flange portion extending rearwardly from said vertical stop portion to overlie a corner of the stack of copy sheets;

and spring loaded corner separator lift means upstanding from said platen vertically operating said corner separator into a raised stack loading position,

said lift means being positioned to 'be engaged by the sheet feed drive means so that as the sheet feed drive means is moved into engagement with the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets said lift means is moved to lower said corner separator into engagement with the corner of the stack of copy sheets at said flange portion.

2. The sheet feed tray of claim 1 further comprising latching means thereon for securing said lift arm in a depressed position so that said flange portion moves into flush engagement with said platen and said vertical stop portion is recessed therefrom.

3. In a copy producing machine provided with a sheet feed tray for supporting and positioning a stack of copy sheets for input to the machine and provided with a sheet feed drive means disposed adjacent the sheet feed tray for retractile movement into engagement with the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets thereon, the improvement in the sheet feed tray comprising:

a platen for supporting the stack of copy sheets, said platen having -a front edge;

a pair of side rails mounted on said platen and extend- 7 ing rearwardly from said front edge for laterally containing therebetween the stack of copy sheets;

a corner separator mounted to each of said side rails adjacent said front edge of said platen, said corner separator being mounted for vertical movement from said platen and disposed to move downwardly theretoward;

said corner separator including a vertical stop portion and a horizontal flange portion connected thereto,

said vertical stop portion extending inwardly of said pair of side rails to provide a front stop for the stack of copy sheets and said horizontal flange portion extending rearwardly from said vertical stop portion to overlie a corner of the stack of copy sheets;

and spring loaded corner separator lift means mounted to said side rails upstanding from said platen, said lift means vertically operating said corner separator into a raised stack loading position,

said lift means being positioned for engagement by the sheet feed drive means and movement therewith toward said platen whereby as the sheet feed drive means is moved into engagement with the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets said lift means is moved to lower said corner separator into engagement with the corner of the stack of copy sheets at said flange portion.

4. In a copy producing machine provided with a sheet feed tray for supporting and positioning a stack of copy sheets for input to the machine and provided with a feed wheel carrying drive shaft mounted above the sheet feed tray and downwardly biased theretoward for rect-r-actile movement into engagement with the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets, the improvement in the sheet feed tray comprising:

a platen adapted to mount substantially horizontally to the copy producing machine for supporting the stack of copy sheets, said platen having a front edge;

a pair of laterally positionable side rails mounted on said platen and extending rearwardly from said front edge for laterally containing the stack of copy sheets;

a corner separator mounted to each of said side rails at said front edge of said platen, said corner separator being mounted for vertical movement from said platen and disposed to move downwardly theretoward,

said corner separator including in connection a vertical stop portion a horizontal flange portion and an extension portion with an elongate vertical slot therein, said slot having an upper termination,

said vertical stop portion extending inwardly of said pair of side rails to provide a front stop for the stack of copy sheets and said horizontal flange portion extending rearwardly from said vertical stop portion to overlie a corner of the stack of copy sheets;

and an elongate horizontally extending corner separator lift arm mounted to each of said side rails and spring biased upwardly from said platen, said lift arm having a finger extending into and freely movable within said slot in said corner separator,

said lift arm normally holding said corner separator in a raised stack loading position by lifting engagement of said finger with said upper termination of said slot,

said lift arm being positioned for engagement by the feed wheel drive shaft and movement downwardly therewith as the feed wheels are moved into engagement with the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets on said platen so that said finger is continulatching means on said side rails for securing said lift arm in a depressed position so that said flange portion moves into flush engagement with said platen and said vertical stop portion is recessed therefrom.

6. The sheet feed tray of claim 5 wherein said latching means comprises an eccentrically faceted wheel rotatably secured to each of said side rails above said lift arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,569,387 9/1951 Robinson. 3,083,962 4/1963 Eichorn. 3,239,212 3/1966 Springer s 271-19 References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,493,167 5/1924 Stevens. 2,166,272 7/ 1939 Storck. 2,654,600 10/ 1953 Ajam et a1. 2,893,729 7/ 1959 Perzentka.

M. HENSON WOOD, ]R., Primary Examiner.

J. N. ERLICH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A COPY PRODUCING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH A SHEET FEED TRAY FOR SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING A STACK OF COPY SHEETS FOR INPUT TO THE MACHINE AND PROVIDED WITH A SHEET FEED DRIVE MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE SHEET FEED TRAY FOR RETRACTILE MOVEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPERMOST SHEET OF THE STACK OF COPY SHEETS THEREON, THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE SHEET FEED TRAY COMPRISING: A PLATEN FOR SUPPORTING THE STACK OF COPY SHEETS, SAID PLATEN HAVING A FRONT EDGE; AT LEAST ONE SIDE RAIL MOUNTED ON SAID PLATEN AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT EDGE FOR LATERALLY CONTAINING THE STACK OF COPY SHEETS; A CORNER SEPARATOR MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT VERTICAL TO SAID PLATEN AT SAID FRONT EDGE OF SAID PLATEN ADJACENT SAID SIDE RAIL, SAID CORNER SEPARATOR INCLUDING A VERTICAL STOP PORTION AND A HORIZONTAL FLANGE PORTION CONNECTED THERETO, SAID VERTICAL STOP PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY OF SAID SIDE RAIL TO PROVIDE A FRONT STOP FOR THE STACK OF COPY SHEETS AND SAID HORIZONTAL FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID VERTICAL STOP PORTION TO OVERLIE A CORNER OF THE STACK OF COPY SHEETS; AND SPRING LOADED CORNER SEPARATOR LIFT MEANS UPSTANDING FROM SAID PLATEN VERTICALLY OPERATING SAID CORNER SEPARATOR INTO A RAISED STACK LOADING POSITION, SAID LIFT MEANS BEING POSITIONED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE SHEET FEED DRIVE MEANS SO THAT AS THE SHEET FEED DRIVE MEANS IS MOVED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPERMOST SHEET OF THE STACK OF COPY SHEETS SAID LIFT MEANS IS MOVED TO LOWER SAID CORNER SEPARATOR INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CORNER OF THE STACK OF COPY SHEETS AT SAID FLANGE PORTION. 